Why does my cat have black ear wax and seem drowsy and agitated?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Judging from the picture you provided, I see black waxy material and also a tattoo that has been done on the inside of the pinna. The tattoo is likely to indicate that she has been spayed and it is in the pattern of a circle with a linear line through it. That is not a concern at all and will be permanent. The black wax may be due to ear mites or an ear infection though. I would recommend having a veterinarian examine Fluffy so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Thank you for the cute picture and also the detailed list of his symptoms. There are a few of possibilities here. Sometime urinary tract issues or urinary blockages in males can cause discomfort and excessive licking near his private area. Seizure activity due to a metabolic condition or underlying neurological disorder could be another possibility. Sometimes animals that have focal or partial seizures can elicit sudden odd behaviors like the behaviors Caspian is experiencing. I would recommend Caspian see his veterinarian very soon for the exam and evaluation. Your veterinarian will do a physical exam and may recommend taking blood work and urine to help determine a cause so he can receive the most appropriate treatment. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

That sounds most like an old dried blood clot. He could have had a small nick that bled, or a current ear infection, or even an ear polyp (which are pretty common in cats, although usually younger ones than Mr. President). I'd recommend a vet visit to get that checked out.

Poor Spookette! It sounds like she may have a pretty bad ear infection. Ear infections can be due to mites, bacteria, or yeast in cats. I'd recommend scheduling an examination with a veterinarian so Spookette can have her ears checked out. A swab can be taken from the ears and evaluated under the microscope to determine if the cause is mites, bacteria, or yeast. She will likely need prescription ear medication to treat. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and I hope Spookette's ear issue resolves quickly!

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It sounds like Quarter has a lot going on and is not feeling very well. I am sorry to hear! It is hard to say exactly what is happening with Quarter without examining him first but I can offer some possibilities. Ear mites are common parasites that can infect the ear. These are very itchy and can really cause some discomfort in cats. If Quarter has not been vaccinated, I would be concerned about something infectious causing his symptoms such a virus. My best advice is to take Quarter into a veterinarian for an exam and some diagnostic testing to determine what is in his ear and why he is lethargic. I hope this helps and I hope you can take him into see his veterinarian soon.

It sounds like your cat may be dealing with an ear infection. Ear infections can be caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal infection, or a combination of these, and can be associated with dietary or environmental allergies or sensitivities, immune system disorders, or a combination of the above. Your cat needs to see a vet. Your vet can look at a sample from an ear swab under the microscope and treat appropriately based on what is found. Your vet will also need to examine the ear with a scope to see if the ear drum is intact, as some medications cannot be used safely if the eardrum is ruptured. Ear infections can be very painful, and can sometimes progress to include the middle or inner ear, where they can cause neurologic signs or permanent hearing loss. Please book an appointment to have your cat seen by a vet as soon as possible. Good luck!

Poor Kiara! Normal cat ears should not have any visible wax at all - so if you are seeing yellow, brown, or black waxy material in the ear, this means that she either has an ear infection or ear mites. Treatment will depend on what type of infection is present, so I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can take a sample of the discharge for analysis to determine the problem and will prescribe appropriate medication to treat it depending on what is found.